Monday, 9 January 2012

Lavande de Nuit

I've had several enquiries through my website recently asking whether the Lavande de Nuit scent I wrote about in The Lantern is available to buy anywhere. I've had to write back and say regretfully that Lavande de Nuit scent exists only in my imagination, and that I can only offer the key perfume inspirations.

Obviously there are lots of lavender scents, but my favourite is from L'Occitane de Provence. It's rich and sweet, and authentically redolent of the region. Then there is a perfume called L'Eau d'Hiver in the Frederic Malle range: this has the white scents of almond, heliotrope and spring flowers. The woodsmoke and vanilla comes from Serge Lutens' Un Bois Vanille. It is possible to mix either of these with the lavender (spraying in layers on the skin) - quite fun to experiment with the quantities of each, but if you do, go easy as the last two are both strong and distinct and easily overpower anything in their way!

The closest complex lavender perfume to Lavande de Nuit I've yet found is Absinthe Verte which is one of several scents in a range called A Taste of Heaven by Kilian. It's an unfolding blend of lavender and vanilla and thyme, with oak moss and a hint of patchouli and spices. Very lovely, very very expensive. But I happen to know there are samples at Saks 5th Ave in New York!

And then there's that fabulous old-timer, Jicky by Guerlain. Launched in 1889, it mixes lavender with a zesty sprinkle of citrus which dries into an alluring creme brulee note, but then after a while the vanilla hunkers down into smoky leather with a sexy animal note of civet. Dangerous stuff and a true inspiration for the fictional Lavande de Nuit.

This post scent of lavender is a treat! I feel up to the smell of this wonderful plant and that you love so much!Good day ... and since I have not yet done so, I wish you a very sweet and happy year 2012!

Oh my, Deborah, you've almost persuaded me to give up my stalwart Chanel #5 and venture into the depths of the perfume fields of lavender. You could certainly write some convincing copy for a perfumerie's ads! Beautifully odiferous descriptions of scents here...I can almost smell them.

Great picture...this post revisited experiences I had when reading your book. Your description of the various scents really worked my olfactories. Lavender has become a favorite scent of mine over the years, so the aromas were very real within your words.

I think that the fact that some wanted to buy it speaks volume. Congratulations! I also wanted to share with you something I saw on Metro (the London newspaper, on the 9th of Jan). This is in the "rush-hour crush" section..." I should have asked out the lovely Japanese girl who I sat opposite, who was reading The Lantern (!!!) on the 17.27 Liverpool Street to Goodmayes last Tuesday. We could read that together if you contact me..." I am not making this up Barbara! So funny!

I am glad that you have had my message Deborah. Apologies for calling you Barbara, I must slowly be getting mad (old age, you see!). Sorry you can't access my site, hope it will be OK soon. I have changed the name, you might want to try "www.FrenchYummyMummy.com". Enjoy your time in Provence then!

About Me

I am a British novelist and sometime journalist. I've loved Provence ever since I first visited more years ago than I care to remember.
My husband and I have a crumbling house in the Luberon, and it is the setting and inspiration for my novel The Lantern, published by Orion in the UK and HarperCollins in the US.
Apart from books, this blog is for all things inspired by the South of France. The original idea was that by the time The Lantern was published, it would contain an archive of relevant background material and photographs to illustrate the story. The Sea Garden was published in summer 2014, and my new novel 300 Days of Sun is due out in 2016.